Adrian Gonzalez stands on first base after singling in a game against the Balitimore Orioles in April

When
Adrian Gonzalez was traded to the Red Sox, the first feeling that came
over hometown fans was happiness. Because for two years, Theo Epstein
& Co. have flirted with Epstein protégé Jed Hoyer, executive VP and
general manager of the San Diego Padres, regarding the availability of a
guy Epstein has coveted since before the 2004 season.

With a payroll of more than $160 million and a lineup hailed last winter as
one of the best ever, you'd think that the 2011 Boston Red Sox could
have field half an All-Star roster. Instead, the injury-plagued team is
sending just four players to the Midsummer Classic next week in Arizona.

It's
no secret that the Red Sox have had some great and not-so-great
moments, from starting 2-6 in early April to going 8-1 on their best
roadtrip since 1977 in early June.

Has anyone ever NOT been happy to leave Cleveland? Has anyone ever been happier to leave Cleveland (and this includes LeBron) than the 2011 Red Sox? After getting pummeled in Texas and iced in Ohio, the Boys of Summer are still searching for one element of their team to look anything like the juggernaut we were promised.